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HP Notebook PCs - BIOS Setup (F10)

To access the BIOS Setup, turn on the computer and repeatedly press the esc key to enter the Startup Menu, and then press the F10 key to enter the BIOS setup utility.

Figure : Example - BIOS Setup Utility

The BIOS Setup window consists of options for Security, System Configuration, and Diagnostics.

note:

Available options vary depending on the model of the computer and the type of Central Processing Unit (CPU) used.

If a system administrator or an IT department maintains the computer, some of the standard BIOS options might be locked out and might not display on the BIOS Setup window. If the computer is an HP or Compaq business model, it might have HP Protect Tools installed. This is a utility that allows you to password protect access to the BIOS, or examine and alter the BIOS setup.

+ What is the default boot order?
This window presents the standard choices available in your BIOS for determining how your computer will attempt to boot the operating system on its next restart. Using the F9 option does not permanently change the way in which your computer attempts to start. It will only apply to the current startup process. For more information about the various boot options, find your desired boot option from the following list for information about that boot option and when to use it.

Floppy disk drive

Optical drive (DVD, CD-ROM)

Hard drive (eSATA/mSATA)

USB device

Network adapter (PXE)

note:

An operating system not found error message might display if a floppy disk or an optical disk is inserted into a computer that does not contain an operating system. If this error occurs, remove the disk and restart the computer.

If you have installed a second hard drive and the computer does not boot, please select the hard drive which contains the operating system as first boot device in the hard drive group.

Some computers in business environments might be set up to boot from a specific location on the corporate network. Select this option for specific technical tasks, such as downloading operating system elements from a server.

If you are not on a network that supports booting from a server on that network, an error message that references PXE displays. You need to restart the computer, and then select a different boot option.

This option still exists in many systems, even though most computers no longer have floppy drives. If you have an external floppy drive available, with an operating system boot diskette, you can still use this option. If you do not have a floppy drive or diskette, it's best to disable this option entirely.

The following list describes the benefits and limitations of the BIOS options.

File - You can obtain detailed information about your system, including the serial number and SKU, restore BIOS defaults, and set the system date and time from this menu.

Security - You can adjust some passwords and access some password utilities from this menu. As you make changes, write down important passwords and put them in a safe location away from your computer.

warning:

If you forget certain passwords, such as the drive lock or the power-on password, they cannot be retrieved. Forgetting such passwords requires you to return your computer to HP where it can be reset, and all data on the computer will be lost in the process. This service is not covered by the warranty, and you will be charged a service fee for it.

HP SpareKey - A utility that can help you retrieve system-level passwords, such as the drive lock or power-on passwords. It is not available on all HP computers.

Drive Lock passwords - A drive lock password protects the data on the hard drive using encryption. The data on the hard drive is inaccessible without entering the drive lock password. By default, the drive lock password is turned off.

Power-on passwords - A power-on password prevents anyone from starting the computer until the proper password is entered. With the power-on password enabled, the screen remains black and prompts for a password as soon as the computer is turned on. The power-on password is turned off by default.

Diagnostics - The System Diagnostics menu contains several tests. Each test validates the hardware on the computer. Testing the hardware helps determine if the hardware is causing the operating system to fail to start, or if the operating system is failing to start due to a software-based error. If the hardware is at fault, an error message generates, and a warranty code displays for use with customer service. For more information, refer to the Testing for Hardware Failures (Windows 7 and Windows Vista)
support document.

System Configuration - The System Configuration menu allows you to alter the BIOS settings on the computer, including language options and boot order. If you change the settings in the BIOS, and the computer no longer responds properly, select the Reset to Default option to return the BIOS to the factory configuration.

HP recommends setting the hard disk drive as the first device in the boot order. If you set the optical drive or network as the first device in the boot order, the startup process can slow down substantially if:

The computer is trying to boot off of the optical drive, but there is no disk in the drive.

The computer is trying to boot off of a network, but no network connection is available.

If you know that you will never boot off of a device other than the hard disk drive, it might be advantageous to you to simply move the boot options that you know you will never use to the bottom of the list in the boot order.

caution:

The danger of booting your computer from a USB key or an optical disc that did not come directly from a software manufacturer is that viruses can be contained on either storage medium.

The following options are primarily used in corporate environments for security purposes. In some corporate environments, the IT department might lock down these options to prevent users from accessing them.

Enable and disable devices options.

Enable and disable ports.

View and change security levels for the ports on the computer.

Restore security settings to their default levels.

note:

Some businesses require their employees to boot their computers from the corporate network for security purposes.